Biomass Cooling and Detoxification via Flash Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cooling and treating thermally hydrolyzed biomass to achieve optimal enzymatic activity face challenges such as dilution, toxicity from carboxylic acids and furfural, and inefficient pH adjustment, leading to suboptimal conditions and high operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving steam explosion of hydrolyzed biomass into a blow tank maintained below atmospheric pressure, where the biomass is diluted and treated with an aqueous diluent to create a pumpable slurry, and the vaporous aqueous stream is withdrawn to maintain low pressure, allowing for enzymatic treatment without additional cooling or pH adjustment steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling is achieved by mixing cold coolant to pre-hydrolyzed biomass, then the biomass temperature is reduced to suitable range, but the slurry is diluted below 15% which increases operational cost and requires removal of dilution liquid in downstream stages
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to vapor through flash evaporation. Pre-hydrolyzed biomass at high temperature (around 200°C) is discharged into a blow tank at atmospheric pressure, causing rapid evaporation of excess water and cooling of the biomass to suitable temperature (40-60°C) for enzymatic treatment, without adding external coolant that would dilute the slurry
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the biomass's own thermal energy and moisture content to achieve cooling. The pre-hydrolyzed biomass serves as both the material to be cooled and the source of water for evaporation, eliminating the need for external cooling media and associated dilution
2Ease of operation
If pre-hydrolyzed biomass is diluted to achieve good enzymatic activity, then enzymatic hydrolysis can proceed effectively, but toxic compounds (carboxylic acids and furfural) remain in the slurry which reduce enzyme and yeast activity
Solution Approach 1:
The flash evaporation process selectively removes volatile toxic compounds (carboxylic acids and furfural) from the pre-hydrolyzed biomass through vaporization. These toxic substances are carried away with the evaporating water vapor, concentrating the beneficial sugars while removing harmful inhibitors before enzymatic treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The rapid change in pressure from high pressure in the reactor to atmospheric pressure in the blow tank triggers flash evaporation. This parameter change selectively vaporizes water and volatile toxic compounds while leaving non-volatile enzymes and sugars in the liquid phase, achieving separation and detoxification
3Ease of operation
If pH adjustment is performed separately from cooling, then optimal pH range (4.0-6.5) can be achieved for enzymatic activity, but additional process steps and dilution are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines cooling and pH adjustment into a single integrated process step. The blow tank simultaneously performs flash evaporation cooling and provides the environment for pH adjustment, eliminating the need for separate cooling and pH adjustment stages that would increase process complexity and dilution
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach efficiently reduces toxic compounds, optimizes enzymatic hydrolysis conditions, and minimizes dilution, resulting in improved energy management and reduced waste streams while maintaining an environmentally friendly process.
Implementation Method 1
The hydrolyzed biomass is cooled and detoxified by flash evaporation to a temperature suitable for further treatment with for example enzymes
Implementation Method 2
discharging said hydrolyzed biomass from the pressurized reactor into a blow tank by steam explosion
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the blow tank is then enzymatically treated.